CONSTITUIONAL CARRY and #TXLEGE: State of Play

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me."
Nehemiah 4:18

Jonathan Stickland, Lone Star Gun Rights, and Texas Firearms Celebrity Michael Cargill held a press conference yesterday afternoon to discuss where things stand related to constitutional carry; they were also joined by State Reps Tony Tinderholt, Kyle Biedermann,and Mike Lang:



Highlights:

• Michael Cargill:
• Texas should modernize its 1871 era gun laws.

• Jonathan Stickland:
• New support this session that didn't exist two years ago.
• Wrong to make people pay to excise rights.
• Members have been hearing from constituents.
• New Democrat support; D's may not agree with #2A, but do agree that protectionist licensing harms our most vulnerable citizens.

• Tony Tinderholt:
• Part of the RPT platform.

• Justin Delosh:
• Texas is middle of the pack, at best, on guns.
• 11 states already have constitutional carry.
• Last people said the votes didn't exist for licensed open carry but it ultimately ended up passing; there's still plenty of time for the same thing to happen this session re: Constitutional carry.
• #1 RPT platform plank.

• Q&A:
• House leadership will be overwhelmed with public support.
• This doesn't effect the process by which guns are sold one iota.
• Tom Mechler put out an e-mail saying he supports it.
• CHL is de facto gun owner registration.
• Threatening letters only re-enforce need for #2A.
• Grassroots agitation has reached the point where the political self-preservation instinct of members is kicking in.
• There's a disconnect between the courageous men and women of law enforcement who serve our communities and the "law enforcement" industrial complex at the Capitol.

Constitutional Carry supporters' Press Conference

"Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.
Nehemiah 4:18

The National Association for Gun Rights, along with Lone Star Gun Rights and Open Carry Texas, held a press conference in favor of Constitutional Carry this morning:



Highlights:

Dudley Brown (NAGR)

• Texas only 14th (at best) for firearms freedom.

• No one should have to beg government to defend themselves.

• 7 states already have Constitutional carry.

• Highest priority for NAGR at state lege level.

Tim Hardin (Jonathan Stickland's Chief of Staff)

• Can't compromise our basic rights.

• Current Texas gun laws "embarrassing."

• Vermont has it.

• Constitutional carry does not abolish the permit system.

Don Huffines

• We have strayed a long way in this country from the blessings of liberty.

• Constitutional carry is a priority for Texans.

Q&A

• The real question is going to be the committee chairs.

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Update: NAGR sent out the following press release.

NAGR Champions Constitutional Carry in Texas

AUSTIN, TX- The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) is excited to be working with Senator Don Huffines and Rep. Jonathan Stickland to pass Constitutional Carry legislation in Texas.

“Constitutional Carry is the highest legislative priority for the National Association for Gun Rights, and our state affiliate, Texas Gun Rights.” said Dudley Brown, President of the National Association for Gun Rights. “The concept is simple: no one should have to beg government bureaucrats for permission to defend themselves.”

Sen. Don Huffines agreed: “We don’t seek the government’s permission to exercise our First Amendment right to speak freely. We don’t get a permit to attend church. Government should extend that same level of reverence to the Second Amendment.”

Representative Jonathan Stickland filed Constitutional Carry bill H.B. 195 early in the House in November 2014.

“Constitutional Carry works in a wide range of states from Wyoming, Montana and Arizona to Arkansas, Alaska and Vermont.” said Rep. Stickland. “It’s embarrassing that Texas currently joins gun control states like California and New York in criminalizing open carry for self-defense. The voters in Texas clearly agree, and are tired of this status quo.”

With 350,000 Texas Gun Rights (TXGR) members, and over 4 million National Association for Gun Rights members nationwide, TXGR and NAGR are America’s fastest-growing and most effective grassroots gun rights organizations.